Create your own AutoFM Script

AutoFM scripts are simple XML files that can be created
in FrameMaker or by other tools and processes.

AutoFM scripts
must have a suffix of “autofm.xml”. You can provide additional text
as a prefix. For example, mybook-autofm.xml.

Choose DITA-FMx > FMx-Addons > FMx-Auto > New AutoFM Script.

You
will be prompted for a file name, then a new AutoFM XML file is
created.

Add and modify elements and attributes to create the process
needed.

Refer to the AutoFM documentation for details on the
data model and element structure for an AutoFM script. The Element
Catalog shows the valid elements. Check the attributes for each
element to see if there are any properties that should be set for elements
you’ve added. Be sure to add the exit element to close FrameMaker
after processing is complete.

Always test a new script manually by choosing the Run
AutoFM Script command.

Once you’ve confirmed that
everything is working as expected, proceed to automated testing.

Set up a batch file or other command line scripting tool
to run your AutoFM script.

Any scripting language that can
run an executable should be able to drive your AutoFM script. You
just specify the FrameMaker executable and pass the AutoFM script
to it as a command line parameter. It is typically best to specify
the full path to both the FrameMaker executable and the AutoFM script,
but this can change depending on your environment. Be sure to wrap
paths in quotes if they contain spaces.

You may want to include
additional scripting code to ensure files are set up in an expected
manner. In particular, it may be useful to test for and delete any
“recover” files that may have been generated in a previous build.
If a recover file exists, it will interrupt the automatic opening
of the associated file.

When generating
a PDF you have the option to use the “SaveAs” command (via the saveas AutoFM
element) or you can print to a PDF using the AutoFM print element.
The print element uses a number of attributes (mirroring the options
in the FrameMaker Print dialog) to allow complete control over the
features in the output. Be sure to specify the “Adobe PDF” printer
name (or whatever this is named on your system) in the @printername
attribute in order for the PDF to be created. Also, the @acrobatdata
attribute can be set to enable the Generate Acrobat Data option
so bookmarks are created.

Keep in mind that you can perform various types of pre and post
processing in the batch file that runs the AutoFM script in FrameMaker.
To ensure a successful build, you might consider testing for and
deleting any errant lock (*.lck) or recover
(*.recover.fm) files that may be lying around.